Pool Party Season is Just Beginning at The Colony Palm Springs

We had a short but sweet stay at the Colony Palm Springs over Labor Day weekend, which officially marks the beginning of the desert town's peak season. Though bargains are still to be found (on a weeknight, a Standard room here can go for as low as $199), rates are expected to climb higher and higher through the winter months—by Coachella season (mid-April), the hotel will demand a three-night minimum at $799 per night. Ouch!

But a classy joint like the Colony can be enjoyed at any time of the year. And on Saturday afternoon, when we checked in, we had one thing and one thing only on our minds: hotel pool lounging. Nevermind the nearby town's attractions, nevermind the casino around the corner (we managed to squeeze that one in later). This was strictly business, and the clock was ticking.

A tight network of red brick paths joins all the hotel's various outdoor spaces (the furthest "casita" is only a minute's walk from the lobby), so you feel like you're continually stumbling into someone's private pool party. All the walkways are surrounded by thick, exotic foliage, and there are hummingbirds and bumble bees dotting the air. On a clear day, simply stare up and watch the palm leaves swaying in the wind. Trust us, you won't need those $12 cocktails to unwind.

Rooms

Though we had requested a room with a claw-foot tub, those only come in Deluxe King rooms—alas, we required a Deluxe Double with two queen size beds (which we found for $199 per night through Expedia), so we had to forfeit the bathroom luxury. Inevitably, a single bathroom with a moderate-sized shower proved a bit cramped for three people, but since so much of our time was spent downstairs (the pool, though concealed by thick shrubbery, was spitting distance from the room), that never mattered. Other pluses included the free, decent wi-fi, complimentary poolside coffee (6am-11am), and iPod docks.

Incidentally, one guest mentioned that they found a deal on the hotel's Facebook page. A nearby concierge confirmed the 10%-20% discount, but explained that those deals are rare.

Pet-friendly

Apparently, the hotel was once purchased by the owners of champion thoroughbred Seabiscuit. And the hotel hasn't lost its pet-friendly values—we spotted at least four free-roaming pooches during our stay, casually allowed to perch up on the canvas lounge beds with their owners. One of the dogs, a tiny Yorkshire Terrier, was even brought into the pool at one point. He must have needed to cool off.